Oxide semiconductor film and semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

To provide an oxide semiconductor film having stable electric conductivity and a highly reliable semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics by using the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) and includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region aligned in the direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed. Further, the composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In 1+δ Ga 1−δ O 3 (ZnO) m  (0&lt;δ&lt;1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied), and the composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In x Ga y O 3 (ZnO) m  (0&lt;X&lt;2, 0&lt;y&lt;2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oxide semiconductor film and a semiconductor device including the oxide semiconductor film.

Note that the semiconductor device in this specification refers to all devices that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics, and electro-optic devices, semiconductor circuits, and electronic appliances are all semiconductor devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Transistors formed over a glass substrate or the like are manufactured using amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or the like, as typically seen in liquid crystal display devices. A transistor manufactured using amorphous silicon can easily be formed over a larger glass substrate. However, a transistor manufactured using amorphous silicon has a disadvantage of low field-effect mobility. Although a transistor manufactured using polycrystalline silicon has high field-effect mobility, it has a disadvantage of not being suitable for a larger glass substrate.

In contrast to a transistor manufactured using silicon with disadvantages as described above, a technique in which a transistor is manufactured using an oxide semiconductor and applied to an electronic device or an optical device has attracted attention. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a transistor is manufactured using an amorphous oxide containing In, Zn, Ga, Sn, and the like as an oxide semiconductor. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a transistor similar to that in Patent Document 1 is manufactured and used as a switching element or the like in a pixel of a display device.

In addition, as for such an oxide semiconductor used in a transistor, there is also description as follows: an oxide semiconductor is insensitive to impurities, there is no problem when a considerable amount of metal impurities are contained in a film, and soda-lime glass which contains a large amount of alkali metals such as sodium and is inexpensive can also be used (see Non-Patent Document 1).

REFERENCE Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2006-165529

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2006-165528

[Non-Patent Document 1] Kamiya, Nomura, and Hosono, “Carrier Transport Properties and Electronic Structures of Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors: The present status”, KOTAI BUTSURI (SOLID STATE PHYSICS), 2009, Vol. 44, pp. 621-633

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, when an oxide semiconductor film remains amorphous, an oxygen vacancy or a dangling bond is likely to be generated in the oxide semiconductor film and carriers are generated in the film by the oxygen vacancy or dangling bond alone or in combination with hydrogen or the like. Therefore, electric characteristics of the oxide semiconductor film, such as the electric conductivity, might change. Such a phenomenon changes the electric characteristics of a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film, which leads to a reduction in reliability of the semiconductor device.

In view of the above problems, it is an object to provide an oxide semiconductor film which has stable electric characteristics. It is another object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device which has stable electric characteristics by using the oxide semiconductor film.

One embodiment of the disclosed invention is an oxide semiconductor film which contains indium, gallium, and zinc and includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region. Unlike an oxide semiconductor film which is entirely amorphous, the oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region; therefore, in the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen vacancies, dangling bonds, or impurities such as hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus bonded to dangling bonds or the like are reduced, and thus the oxide semiconductor film is highly purified. Further, the composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region and the composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is determined, whereby the oxide semiconductor film can have a stable crystalline structure. Details thereof will be described below.

Another embodiment of the disclosed invention is an oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) and includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region aligned in the direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed. Further, the composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied), and the composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied).

Another embodiment of the disclosed invention is a semiconductor device including a gate electrode; a first insulating film provided in contact with the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film provided in contact with the first insulating film; and a second insulating film provided in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), and includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region aligned in the direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed. The composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied), and the composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<x<2 , 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied).

In each of the above-described structures, it is preferable that the total impurity concentration of boron (B), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) contained in the oxide semiconductor film be lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, the concentration of any one of boron (B), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) contained in the oxide semiconductor film be lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, the concentrations of lithium (Li) and potassium (K) contained in the oxide semiconductor film be lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁵ atoms/cm³, and the concentration of sodium (Na) contained in the oxide semiconductor film be lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³.

An oxide semiconductor film which contains indium, gallium, and zinc disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention can have stable electric characteristics. By using such an oxide semiconductor film which contains indium, gallium, and zinc for a transistor, a highly reliable semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional TEM images of an oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a crystalline structure of an oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of an oxide semiconductor film according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional TEM image of an oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4E are cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a manufacturing apparatus;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views each illustrating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are a block diagram and equivalent circuit diagrams illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A to 8D are external views each illustrating an electronic appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are graphs showing measurement results of the spin density in Example; and

FIG. 10 is a graph showing measurement results of the spin density in Example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments and an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following description, and it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments and example to be given below. Note that in structures of the present invention described hereinafter, like portions or portions having similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals in different drawings, and description thereof is not repeated.

Note that in each drawing described in this specification, the size, the layer thickness, or the region of each component is exaggerated for clarity in some cases. Therefore, the embodiments and example of the present invention are not limited to such scales.

Note that terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” in this specification are used in order to avoid confusion among components, and the terms do not limit the components numerically. Therefore, for example, the term “first” can be replaced with the term “second”, “third”, or the like as appropriate.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, a structure of an oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 2, and FIGS. 3A and 3B.

An oxide semiconductor film according to this embodiment which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region aligned in the direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed. The composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied). The composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied).

An oxide semiconductor film was actually formed, and a cross section thereof was observed with a TEM (transmission electron microscope). FIGS. 1A and 1B (cross-sectional TEM images) show the results.

A sample shown in the cross-sectional TEM image of FIG. 1A was obtained as follows. An oxide semiconductor film 101 was deposited over a substrate 100 to a thickness of 50 nm at a room temperature with the use of a metal oxide target containing indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) (with a composition ratio of In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) by a sputtering method, and after that a heat treatment was performed on the oxide semiconductor film 101 at 700° C. for an hour under an oxygen atmosphere. It is found from the cross-sectional TEM image shown in FIG. 1A that an upper portion of the oxide semiconductor film 101 has a crystalline region 102. Note that the cross-sectional TEM image shown in FIG. 1B is an enlarged image of the crystalline region 102 shown in FIG. 1A.

In the cross-sectional TEM images shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a plurality of crystalline regions 102 where atoms are arranged in a layered manner in the oxide semiconductor film 101 are observed in the oxide semiconductor film containing indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn).

Next, the spacing between lattice planes where atoms are arranged in a layered manner was calculated using the cross-sectional TEM image shown in FIG. 1B. The spacing between the lattice planes in a direction parallel to a normal vector of the surface where the oxide semiconductor film 101 is formed was found to be 0.288 nm. Note that the spacing between the lattice planes was calculated by fast fourier transform mapping (FFTM) method.

Here, an In—Ga—Zn—O film, which is an example of the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), has a crystal structure in which an InO layer and a GaO layer or a ZnO layer are stacked in a layered manner in the c-axis direction. As an example of such a crystal structure, a structure where the lattice constant c is 2.607 nm in the composition of InGaO₃ (ZnO) can be given. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a crystal structure of an In—Ga—Zn—O film. In FIG. 2, a white circle indicates indium (In), a gray circle indicates gallium (Ga) or zinc (Zn), and a black circle indicates oxygen (O). As shown in FIG. 2, an InO₂ layer and a GaZnO₂ layer are stacked in the c-axis direction as a layer including a bond with a hexagonal lattice. Note that the c-axis direction is perpendicular to the a-b plane.

Next, calculation was performed based on the crystal structure shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram obtained by the calculation. Further, FIG. 3B is a further enlarged cross-sectional TEM image of the crystalline region 102 shown in FIG. 1B.

In FIG. 3A, the contrast of the image is proportional to the square of an atomic number, and a white circle indicates In and a gray circle indicates Ga or Zn. In FIG. 3B, a region that seems to be a black layer indicates an InO layer, and a region positioned between adjacent black layers indicates a GaO layer or a ZnO layer.

In this manner, it is found that the arrangement of atoms of the crystalline region 102 in the schematic diagram of FIG. 3A is substantially the same as that in the cross-sectional TEM image of FIG. 3B. In other words, the crystalline region 102 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG. 3B has the crystal structure shown in FIG. 2.

The spacing between adjacent (001) planes, which is one of unit cells in the c-axis direction corresponds to the lattice constant c in the c-axis direction which is 2.607 nm. Accordingly, the spacing between (009) planes corresponds to d=0.2897 nm. In other words, the spacing between planes in the direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where a crystal plane of the crystalline region 102 of FIG. 1B where atoms are arranged in a layered manner is formed is 0.288 nm, which is substantially the same as the spacing d between the (009) planes which is 0.2897 nm. Accordingly, it is found that the crystalline region 102 has a crystal structure of InGaZnO₄. In other words, the composition of the crystalline region 102 is In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 (atomic ratio).

From the above, as shown in the cross-sectional TEM images of FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG. 3B, the crystalline region 102 has a c-axis alignment and a triangular or hexagonal atomic arrangement when seen from the direction perpendicular to the a-b plane. In the crystalline region 102, metal atoms are arranged in a layered manner, or metal atoms and oxygen atoms are arranged in a layered manner along the c-axis, and the direction of the a-axis or the b-axis is varied in the a-b plane (the crystal rotates around the c-axis). In this specification and the like, the oxide semiconductor film including such a crystalline region is referred to as a c-axis aligned crystalline oxide semiconductor (CAAC-OS) film.

In a broad sense, an CAAC-OS film means a non-single-crystal material including a phase which has a triangular, hexagonal, regular triangular, or regular hexagonal atomic arrangement when seen from the direction perpendicular to the a-b plane and in which metal atoms are arranged in a layered manner or metal atoms and oxygen atoms are arranged in a layered manner when seen from the direction perpendicular to the c-axis direction.

The CAAC-OS film is not a single crystal film, but this does not mean that the CAAC-OS film is composed of only an amorphous component. Although the CAAC-OS film includes a crystallized portion (crystalline portion) or a crystallized region (crystalline region), a boundary between one crystalline portion and another crystalline portion or a boundary between one crystalline region and another crystalline region is not clear in some cases.

Nitrogen may be substituted for part of oxygen included in the CAAC-OS film. Further, the c-axes of individual crystalline portions included in the CAAC-OS film may be aligned in one direction (e.g., a direction parallel to a normal vector of the surface where the CAAC-OS film is formed or a normal vector of a surface of the CAAC-OS film). Alternatively, the normal vectors of the a-b planes of the individual crystalline portions included in the CAAC-OS film may be aligned in one direction (e.g., a direction perpendicular to a normal vector of the surface where the CAAC-OS film is formed or a direction perpendicular to a normal vector of a surface of the CAAC-OS film).

Such a CAAC-OS film can be formed using a material where the c-axis is aligned in a direction parallel to a normal vector of the surface where the CAAC-OS film is formed or a direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface of the CAAC-OS film, which has a triangular or hexagonal atomic arrangement when observed from the direction perpendicular to the a-b plane, and in which metal atoms are arranged in a layered manner or metal atoms and oxygen atoms (or nitrogen atoms) are arranged in a layered manner when a cross section of the film is observed.

Here, a stoichiometric composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) will be considered. In and Ga are trivalent, and Zn is divalent. For example, even when In is substituted by Ga, the valence is not changed because both In and Ga are trivalent. Further, the amount of Ga can be reduced and the amount of In can be increased without changing the crystalline structure.

In other words, the stoichiometric composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film containing indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied), and even when the composition ratio of In and Ga deviates from the stoichiometric composition ratio, a stable crystalline structure can be kept.

It can be confirmed that In and Ga are partly substituted in the crystalline structure shown in FIG. 3B. In a region 150 of the crystalline region 102, continuity of the continuous crystal structure of In (the region that seems to be a black layer) is partly changed. Further, the contrast of the region 150 is very similar to that of Ga or Zn, and when substitution by Zn is performed, the valence is changed, and thus the crystalline structure cannot be kept; therefore, it is indicated that substitution by Ga is performed.

Next, Table 1 shows results of analyzing the composition of the oxide semiconductor film 101 which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102. Note that the composition analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Each element in the oxide semiconductor film 101 is represented by atomic %. Further, the amount of oxygen (O) is calculated on the assumption that oxides are contained in the oxide semiconductor film 101 as In₂O₃, Ga₂O₃ and ZnO, which are ideal compositions.

TABLE 1 In Ga Zn O Oxide 15.8 15.6 10.7 57.9 semiconductor film 101

Here, when the oxide semiconductor film 101 shown in Table 1 is normalized by In, the composition shown in Table 2 is obtained.

TABLE 2 In Ga Zn O Oxide 1.00 0.99 0.68 3.66 semiconductor film 101

In Table 2, the composition ratio of In to Ga and Zn in the oxide semiconductor film 101 including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 is substantially 1:1:0.7 (=In:Ga:Zn) (atomic %). Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor film 101 which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 may have a different structure from an In—Ga—Zn—O-based oxide semiconductor film represented by InGaO₃(ZnO)_(n) (n is a natural number). In other words, the oxide semiconductor film 101 which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m) (0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied).

As described above, the composition ratio of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 is different from that of the oxide semiconductor film 101 which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102. In other words, the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 may have a different composition ratio from the entire oxide semiconductor film 101. This may be because the composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film 101 is changed by a temperature at which the oxide semiconductor film 101 was formed, a heat treatment performed after formation of the oxide semiconductor film 101, or the like.

However, even when the composition ratio of the entire oxide semiconductor film 101 is changed, a stable crystalline structure is kept in the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102; therefore, the oxide semiconductor film 101 can have a stable crystalline structure.

Further, the impurity concentration in the oxide semiconductor film 101 which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 is low. Specifically, the total impurity concentration of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N), which are n-type impurities, can be preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, more preferably, lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³.

Further, the concentration of any one of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N) which are n-type impurities and contained in the oxide semiconductor film 101 can be preferably lower than or equal to 1.0×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, more preferably, lower than or equal to 1.0×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³.

This is because the c-axis-aligned crystalline region 102 has a stable crystalline structure, and thus, oxygen vacancies, dangling bonds, or impurities such as hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus bonded to dangling bonds or the like in the oxide semiconductor film 101 are reduced.

Here, the concentrations of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N) which are impurities in the oxide semiconductor film 101 of FIGS. 1A and 1B formed actually were measured. Note that the measurement of the impurity concentrations was performed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

It was found that as results of the SIMS analysis, the concentration of phosphorus (P) was lower than or equal to 4.0×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³, the concentration of boron (B) was lower than or equal to 4.0×10¹⁷ atoms/cm³, the concentration of nitrogen (N) was lower than or equal to 1.0×10¹⁷ atoms/cm³, and the total concentration of all the impurities was lower than or equal to 4.5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³.

In this manner, impurities that might impart n-type conductivity are removed thoroughly from the oxide semiconductor film 101, whereby the oxide semiconductor film 101 can be highly purified.

Further, in the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), other than the concentrations of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N), which are the above-described impurities, the concentration of an impurity such as an alkali metal is also preferably reduced. For example, in the oxide semiconductor film, the concentration of lithium is lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁵ atoms/cm³, preferably lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁵ atoms/cm³; the concentration of sodium is lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³, preferably lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³; the concentration of potassium is lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁵ atoms/cm³, preferably lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁵ atoms/cm³.

An alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal are adverse impurities for the oxide semiconductor and are preferably contained as little as possible. In particular, when the oxide semiconductor film is used for a transistor, sodium among alkali metals is diffused into an insulating film in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, which may cause fluctuation in the threshold voltage of the transistor, or the like. In addition, in the oxide semiconductor film, sodium cleaves a bond between metal and oxygen or is inserted between the metal-oxygen bond. As a result, transistor characteristics deteriorate (e.g., the transistor becomes normally-on (the shift of a threshold voltage to a negative side) or the mobility is decreased). In addition, this also causes variation in the characteristics.

Accordingly, it is preferable that impurities in the oxide semiconductor film which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region be extremely reduced, the concentration of an alkali metal be lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³, and the concentration of hydrogen be lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³.

The oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, whereby it has favorable crystallinity unlike an oxide semiconductor film which is entirely amorphous; therefore, oxygen vacancies, dangling bonds, or impurities such as hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus bonded to dangling bonds or the like are reduced.

An oxygen vacancy, a dangling bond, or an impurity bonded to a dangling bond or the like functions as a carrier trap or a source for supplying a carrier in the oxide semiconductor film, which might change the electric conductivity of the oxide semiconductor film.

Therefore, the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) and includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region can have stable electric conductivity and can be electrically stable with respect to irradiation with visible light, ultraviolet light, and the like.

Further, in the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), the composition of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region and the composition of the entire oxide semiconductor film including the c-axis-aligned crystalline region are determined. The c-axis-aligned crystalline region can be stable even when the composition ratio of the c-axis-aligned crystalline region deviates from the stoichiometric composition ratio. By determining each composition like this, the oxide semiconductor film having a stable crystalline structure can be obtained.

The structures and the like described in this embodiment can be combined as appropriate with any of the structures, methods, and the like described in other embodiments.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, a method for forming the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium, gallium, and zinc and includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, described in Embodiment 1, and a method for manufacturing a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E and FIG. 5. FIGS. 4A to 4E are cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of a top-gate transistor 320. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a structure of a manufacturing apparatus. Unlike in Embodiment 1, a method for forming the oxide semiconductor film which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region through two separate steps will be described in this embodiment.

FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view of the top-gate transistor 320. The transistor 320 includes, over a substrate 300 having an insulating surface, an insulating film 301, an oxide semiconductor film 309 including a channel formation region, a source electrode 304 a, a drain electrode 304 b, a gate insulating film 302, a gate electrode 312, and an insulating film 310 a. The source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b are provided so as to cover end portions of the oxide semiconductor film 309. The gate insulating film 302 covering the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b is in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor film 309. The gate electrode 312 is provided over part of the oxide semiconductor film 309 with the gate insulating film 302 interposed therebetween.

Further, the insulating film 310 a and an insulating film 310 b are provided over the gate insulating film 302 and the gate electrode 312.

A process for manufacturing the transistor 320 over the substrate will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4E.

First, the insulating film 301 is formed over the substrate 300 (see FIG. 4A).

As the substrate 100, a non-alkali glass substrate formed by a fusion method or a float method, for example, plastic substrates having heat resistance sufficient to withstand a process temperature of this manufacturing process can be used. In addition, a substrate where an insulating film is provided on a surface of a metal substrate such as a stainless steel substrate, or a substrate where an insulating film is provided on a surface of a semiconductor substrate may be used. In the case where the substrate 300 is mother glass, the substrate may have any of the following sizes: the first generation (320 mm×400 mm), the second generation (400 mm×500 mm), the third generation (550 mm×650 mm), the fourth generation (680 mm×880 mm or 730 mm×920 mm), the fifth generation (1000 mm×1200 mm or 1100 mm×1250 mm), the sixth generation (1500 mm×1800 mm), the seventh generation (1900 mm×2200 mm), the eighth generation (2160 mm×2460 mm), the ninth generation (2400 mm×2800 mm or 2450 mm×3050 mm), the tenth generation (2950 mm×3400 mm), and the like. High process temperature and a long period of process time drastically shrink the mother glass. Thus, in the case where mass production is performed with use of the mother glass, the preferable heating temperature in the manufacturing process is lower than or equal to 600° C., further preferably, lower than or equal to 450° C.

The insulating film 301 is formed by a PCVD method or a sputtering method to a thickness greater than or equal to 50 nm and less than or equal to 600 nm, using one of a silicon oxide film, a gallium oxide film, an aluminum oxide film, a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxynitride film, an aluminum oxynitride film, and a silicon nitride oxide film or a stacked layer including any of the above films. The insulating film 301 used as a base insulating film preferably contains oxygen at an amount which exceeds at least that in the stoichiometric composition ratio in the film (the bulk). For example, in the case where a silicon oxide film is used, the composition formula is SiO_(2+α)(α>0). When the amount of oxygen contained in the insulating film 301 is increased, the oxygen can be supplied from the insulating film 301 to the oxide semiconductor film which is to be formed later.

Further, planarity of a surface of the insulating film 301 is preferably improved. For example, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the insulating film 301 is preferably greater than or equal to 0.1 nm and less than 0.5 nm. When the planarity of the surface of the insulating film 301 is improved, the crystallinity of the oxide semiconductor film which is to be formed later is improved.

In the case where a glass substrate including an impurity such as alkali metal is used, a silicon nitride film, an aluminum nitride film, or the like may be formed as a nitride insulating film between the insulating film 301 and the substrate 300, by a PCVD method or a sputtering method in order to prevent entry of alkali metal. Since an alkali metal such as Li or Na is an impurity, it is preferable to reduce the content of such an alkali metal.

Next, a first oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 10 nm over the insulating film 301.

In this embodiment, the first oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness of 5 nm in an oxygen atmosphere, an argon atmosphere, or an atmosphere including argon and oxygen under conditions where a metal oxide target (an In—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide target in which the composition ratio of In to Ga and Zn is 1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) is used, the distance between the substrate and the target is 170 mm, the substrate temperature is 400° C., the pressure is 0.4 Pa, and the direct current (DC) power is 500 W.

The first oxide semiconductor film can be formed by a sputtering method using an argon gas, an oxygen gas, a mixed gas of an argon gas and an oxygen gas, or the like. The substrate is heated during the film formation, whereby the first oxide semiconductor film in which the proportion of a crystalline region is higher than that of an amorphous region can be formed. For example, the substrate temperature may be higher than or equal to 150° C. and lower than or equal to 450° C. The substrate temperature is preferably higher than or equal to 200° C. and lower than or equal to 400° C.

Further, the atmosphere in which the first oxide semiconductor film is formed can be an argon gas atmosphere, an oxygen gas atmosphere, or a mixed gas atmosphere of an argon gas and an oxygen gas, which is preferably a high-purity gas atmosphere. It is preferable to use a high-purity gas atmosphere, for example, from which an impurity such as hydrogen, water, a hydroxyl group, or hydride is removed to a concentration of lower than or equal to 1 ppm (preferably, lower than or equal to 10 ppb).

Further, a flow rate of oxygen in a sputtering atmosphere during the film formation is preferably increased. When the flow rate of oxygen during the film formation is increased, the oxygen concentration in the first oxide semiconductor film can be increased. For example, the flow rate of oxygen to the total gas flow rate is preferably greater than or equal to 10%, more preferably greater than or equal to 30%, even more preferably greater than or equal to 50%.

Crystallization of the first oxide semiconductor film can be further promoted by increasing the substrate temperature.

Next, a first heat treatment is performed under a condition where the atmosphere of a chamber in which the substrate is set is an atmosphere of nitrogen or dry air. The temperature of the first heat treatment is higher than or equal to 400° C. and lower than or equal to 750° C. In addition, heating time of the first heat treatment is longer than or equal to 1 minute and shorter than or equal to 24 hours. By the first heat treatment, a first oxide semiconductor film 308 a is formed (see FIG. 4A).

Next, a second oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness greater than 10 nm over the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a.

In this embodiment, the second oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness of 25 nm in an oxygen atmosphere, an argon atmosphere, or an atmosphere including argon and oxygen under conditions where a metal oxide target (an In—Ga—Zn—O-based metal oxide target in which the composition ratio of In to Ga and Zn is 1:1:1 [atomic ratio]) is used, the distance between the substrate and the target is 170 mm, the substrate temperature is 400° C., the pressure is 0.4 Pa, and the direct current (DC) power is 500 W.

Next, a second heat treatment is performed under a condition where the atmosphere of a chamber in which the substrate is set is an atmosphere of nitrogen or dry air. The temperature of the second heat treatment is higher than or equal to 400° C. and lower than or equal to 750° C. In addition, heating time of the second heat treatment is longer than or equal to 1 minute and shorter than or equal to 24 hours. By the second heat treatment, a second oxide semiconductor film 308 b is formed (see FIG. 4B).

Through the above steps, an oxide semiconductor film 308 including the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a and the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b is formed.

When the first heat treatment and the second heat treatment are performed at a temperature higher than 750° C., a crack (a crack extended in the thickness direction) is easily generated in the oxide semiconductor film due to shrink of the glass substrate. Thus, the temperatures of heat treatments performed after formation of the first oxide semiconductor film, e.g., the temperatures of the first heat treatment and the second heat treatment, the substrate temperature in film formation by sputtering, and the like are preferably set to be lower than or equal to 750° C., more preferably lower than or equal to 450° C., whereby a highly reliable transistor can be manufactured over a large-area glass substrate.

It is preferable that the steps from the formation of the insulating film 301 to the second heat treatment be performed successively without exposure to the air. FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating a manufacturing apparatus which can perform the steps from the formation of the insulating film 301 to the second heat treatment successively without exposure to the air.

The manufacturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 is a single wafer multi-chamber apparatus, which includes a sputtering chamber 10 a, a sputtering chamber 10 b, a sputtering chamber 10 c, a substrate supply chamber 11 provided with three cassette ports 14 for holding a process substrate, a load lock chamber 12 a, an unload lock chamber 12 b, a transfer chamber 13, a substrate heating chamber 15, and the like. Note that a transfer robot for transferring a process substrate is provided in each of the substrate supply chamber 11 and the transfer chamber 13. Further, a gate valve 16 is provided as a partition between the chambers (the sputtering chamber 10 a, the load lock chamber 12 a, and the like). The atmospheres of the sputtering chambers 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c, the transfer chamber 13, and the substrate heating chamber 15 are preferably controlled so as to hardly contain hydrogen and moisture (i.e., as an inert atmosphere, a reduced pressure atmosphere, or a dry air atmosphere). For example, a preferable atmosphere is a dry nitrogen atmosphere in which the dew point of moisture is lower than or equal to −40° C., preferably lower than or equal to −50° C.

The sputtering chambers 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c are exposed to the air in some cases when a target, an attachment protection plate, or the like is exchanged. After the sputtering chambers are exposed to the air, it is preferable that the atmospheres of the chambers hardly contain hydrogen and moisture. For example, after the chambers are exposed to the air, the chambers are baked to remove hydrogen and moisture which are attached to the inside of the chambers, or pre-sputtering is performed to remove hydrogen and moisture which are attached to a surface of the target or the attachment protection plate, whereby entry of impurities into the oxide semiconductor film can be prevented thoroughly.

The sputtering chambers 10 a, 10 b, and 10 c may each have a structure in which counter flow of a gas from an exhaust pathway is prevented using a cryopump, a turbo molecular pump provided with a cold trap, or the like. It is necessary to prevent entry of a gas from the exhaust pathway thoroughly because it increases the impurity concentration in the oxide semiconductor film.

An example of a procedure of the manufacturing steps with use of the manufacturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 is as follows. A process substrate is transferred from the cassette port 14 to the substrate heating chamber 15 through the load lock chamber 12 a and the transfer chamber 13; moisture attached to the process substrate is removed by vacuum baking or the like in the substrate heating chamber 15; the process substrate is transferred to the sputtering chamber 10 c through the transfer chamber 13; and the insulating film 301 is formed in the sputtering chamber 10 c. Then, the process substrate is transferred to the sputtering chamber 10 a through the transfer chamber 13 without exposure to the air, and the first oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness of 5 nm in the sputtering chamber 10 a. After that, the process substrate is transferred to the substrate heating chamber 15 through the transfer chamber 13 without exposure to the air, and the first heat treatment is performed, so that the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a is formed. Then, the process substrate is transferred to the sputtering chamber 10 b through the transfer chamber 13 without exposure to the air, and the second oxide semiconductor film is formed to a thickness greater than 10 nm in the sputtering chamber 10 b. After that, the process substrate is transferred to the substrate heating chamber 15 through the transfer chamber 13 without exposure to the air, and the second heat treatment is performed, so that the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b is formed. After that, the process substrate is transferred to the cassette port 14 through the transfer chamber 13, the unload lock chamber 12 b, and the substrate supply chamber 11.

As described above, with use of the manufacturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, the steps from the formation of the insulating film 301 to the second heat treatment can be performed without exposure to the air.

Further, with use of the manufacturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, a process which is different from the process described above and performed without exposure to the air can be achieved by change of the sputtering target in the sputtering chamber. For example, the substrate over which the insulating film 301 is formed in advance is placed in the cassette port 14, and the steps from the formation of the first oxide semiconductor film to the second heat treatment are performed without exposure to the air, so that the oxide semiconductor film 308 is formed. After that, a conductive film for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode can also be formed over the oxide semiconductor film 308 using a metal target in the sputtering chamber 10 c without exposure to the air.

As described above, with use of the single wafer multi-chamber apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, the insulating film 301, the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a, and the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b can be formed successively.

Note that in FIGS. 4B to 4E, the interface between the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a and the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b is denoted by a dotted line for description of the oxide semiconductor film 308; however, the interface is actually not distinct and is illustrated for easy understanding.

Further, the oxide semiconductor film 308 is a highly purified oxide semiconductor film from which water, hydrogen, a hydroxyl group, hydride, or the like is removed thoroughly by the film formation process, the heat treatment, or the like. The concentration of hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film 308 is lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³, more preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁷ atoms/cm³.

Further, the total impurity concentration of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N) which are n-type impurities and contained in the oxide semiconductor film 308, is preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, more preferably lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³. Further, the concentration of any one of phosphorus (P), boron (B), and nitrogen (N) which are n-type impurities is preferably lower than or equal to 1.0×10¹⁹ atoms/cm³, more preferably lower than or equal to 1.0×10¹⁸ atoms/cm³.

In this manner, impurities that might impart n-type conductivity are removed thoroughly from the oxide semiconductor film 308, whereby the oxide semiconductor film 308 can be made i-type (intrinsic).

Next, the oxide semiconductor film 308 is processed into the island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 309 (see FIG. 4C). The oxide semiconductor film 308 can be processed by being etched after a mask having a desired shape is formed over the oxide semiconductor film 308. The mask may be formed by a method such as photolithography or an ink-jet method.

For the etching of the oxide semiconductor film 308, either wet etching or dry etching may be employed. It is needless to say that both of them may be employed in combination.

Next, a conductive film for forming the source electrode and the drain electrode (including a wiring formed in the same layer as the source electrode and the drain electrode) is formed over the island-shaped oxide semiconductor film 309 and processed to form the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b (see FIG. 4C). The source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode layer 304 b can be formed by a sputtering method or the like to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure using any of metal materials such as molybdenum, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, aluminum, copper, neodymium, and scandium or an alloy material containing any of the above metal materials.

Next, the gate insulating film 302 being in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor film 309 and covering the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b is formed (see FIG. 4D). The gate insulating film 302 is an oxide insulating film, which is formed by a plasma CVD method, a sputtering method, or the like to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure using silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, aluminum oxynitride, aluminum nitride oxide, hafnium oxide, or a combination thereof. The thickness of the gate insulating film 302 is from 10 nm to 200 nm.

In this embodiment, as the gate insulating film 302, a silicon oxide film is formed by a sputtering method to a thickness of 100 nm. After formation of the gate insulating film 302, a third heat treatment is performed. By the third heat treatment, oxygen is supplied from the gate insulating film 302 to the oxide semiconductor film 309. The third heat treatment is performed at a temperature higher than or equal to 200° C. and lower than or equal to 400° C., preferably higher than or equal to 250° C. and lower than or equal to 320° C., in an inert atmosphere, an oxygen atmosphere, or a mixed atmosphere of oxygen and nitrogen. In addition, heating time of the third heat treatment is longer than or equal to 1 minute and shorter than or equal to 24 hours. Note that when the heat temperature of the third heat treatment is higher than 320° C., the on-state characteristics of a transistor may be degraded.

Next, after a conductive film is formed over the gate insulating film 302, the gate electrode 312 is formed through a photolithography step and an etching step (see FIG. 4E). The gate electrode 312 overlaps with part of the oxide semiconductor film 309 with the gate insulating film 302 interposed therebetween. The gate electrode 312 can be formed by a sputtering method or the like to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure using a metal material such as molybdenum, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, aluminum, copper, neodymium, or scandium, or an alloy material containing any of these materials.

Next, the insulating film 310 a and the insulating film 310 b are formed to cover the gate electrode 312 and the gate insulating film 302 (see FIG. 4E).

The insulating film 310 a and the insulating film 310 b can be formed to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure using silicon oxide, silicon nitride, gallium oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride oxide, aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxynitride, aluminum nitride oxide, or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, as the insulating film 310 a, a silicon oxide film having a thickness of 300 nm is formed by a sputtering method, and a heat treatment is performed for an hour at 250° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere. Then, in order to prevent entry of moisture or alkali metal, as the insulating film 310 b, a silicon nitride film is formed by a sputtering method. Since an alkali metal such as Li or Na is an impurity, the content of such an alkali metal is preferably reduced. The concentration of such an alkali metal in the oxide semiconductor film 309 is lower than or equal to 5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³, preferably, lower than or equal to 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm³. Although a two-layer structure of the insulating film 310 a and the insulating film 310 b is exemplified in this embodiment, a single-layer structure may be used.

Through the above process, the top-gate transistor 320 is formed.

In the transistor 320 illustrated in FIG. 4E, at least part of the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a or the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region. When the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a or the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, the first oxide semiconductor film 308 a or the second oxide semiconductor film 308 b has favorable crystallinity unlike an oxide semiconductor film which is entirely amorphous; therefore, oxygen vacancies, dangling bonds, or impurities such as hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus bonded to dangling bonds or the like are reduced.

Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) and includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region can be electrically stable.

The structures and the like described in this embodiment can be combined as appropriate with any of the structures, methods, and the like described in other embodiments.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, transistors whose structures are different from a structure of the top-gate transistor 320 described in Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C. Components that are similar to the components of the transistor 320 described in Embodiment 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of such components is not repeated.

In the transistor illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium, gallium, and zinc and includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, described in Embodiment 1, is used for a channel formation region, whereby the transistor can have high reliability.

A transistor 330 illustrated in FIG. 6A includes the insulating film 301 provided over the substrate 300; the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b provided over the insulating film 301; the oxide semiconductor film 309 provided in contact with upper surfaces and side surfaces of the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b; the gate insulating film 302 provided over the oxide semiconductor film 309; the gate electrode 312 provided over the gate insulating film 302 so as to overlap with the oxide semiconductor film 309; and the insulating film 310 a provided over the gate electrode 312. In other words, the transistor 330 is different from the transistor 320 in that the oxide semiconductor film 309 is provided in contact with the upper surfaces and the side surfaces of the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b.

A transistor 340 illustrated in FIG. 6B includes the insulating film 301 provided over the substrate 300; the gate electrode 312 provided over the insulating film 301; the gate insulating film 302 provided over the gate electrode 312; the oxide semiconductor film 309 provided over the gate insulating film 302; the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b provided in contact with an upper surface and side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor film 309; and the insulating film 310 a provided over the oxide semiconductor film 309. In other words, the transistor 340 is different from the transistor 320 in that it has a bottom gate structure in which the gate electrode 312 and the gate insulating film 302 are provided below the oxide semiconductor film 309.

A transistor 350 illustrated in FIG. 6C includes the insulating film 301 provided over the substrate 300; the gate electrode 312 provided over the insulating film 301; the gate insulating film 302 provided over the gate electrode 312; the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b provided over the gate insulating film 302; the oxide semiconductor film 309 provided in contact with upper surfaces and side surfaces of the source electrode 304 a and the drain electrode 304 b; and the insulating film 310 a provided over the oxide semiconductor film 309. In other words, the transistor 350 is different from the transistor 330 in that it has a bottom gate structure in which the gate electrode 312 and the gate insulating film 302 are provided below the oxide semiconductor film 309.

Note that in each of the transistor 330, the transistor 340, and the transistor 350, which are illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C, at least part of the oxide semiconductor film 309 includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region. When the oxide semiconductor film 309 includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, the oxide semiconductor film 309 has favorable crystallinity unlike an oxide semiconductor film which is entirely amorphous; therefore, oxygen vacancies, dangling bonds, or impurities such as hydrogen, boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus bonded to dangling bonds or the like are reduced.

Accordingly, the oxide semiconductor film which contains indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) and includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region can be electrically stable.

In this manner, the oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied to transistors with various structures.

The structures, methods, and the like described in this embodiment can be combined as appropriate with any of the structures, methods, and the like described in other embodiments.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, a display device in which at least part of a driver circuit and a transistor to be disposed in a pixel portion are formed over one substrate will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C.

As the transistor to be disposed in the pixel portion, the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 is used. Further, the transistor can easily be an n-channel transistor; thus, part of a driver circuit that can be formed using an n-channel thin film transistor (TFT) in the driver circuit is formed over the same substrate as the transistor of the pixel portion. By using the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 for the pixel portion or the driver circuit as described above, a highly reliable display device can be provided.

FIG. 7A is an example of a block diagram of an active matrix display device. A pixel portion 501, a first scan line driver circuit 502, a second scan line driver circuit 503, and a signal line driver circuit 504 are provided over a substrate 500 in the display device. In the pixel portion 501, a plurality of signal lines extended from the signal line driver circuit 504 are arranged and a plurality of scan lines extended from the first scan line driver circuit 502 and the second scan line driver circuit 503 are arranged. Note that pixels which include display elements are provided in a matrix in respective regions where the scan lines and the signal lines intersect with each other. The substrate 500 of the display device is connected to a timing control circuit (also referred to as controller or control IC) through a connection portion such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

In FIG. 7A, the first scan line driver circuit 502, the second scan line driver circuit 503, and the signal line driver circuit 504 are formed over the same substrate 500 as the pixel portion 501. Accordingly, the number of components of a driver circuit which is provided outside and the like are reduced, so that reduction in cost can be achieved. Further, when the driver circuit is provided outside the substrate 500, wiring would need to be extended and the number of wiring connections would be increased, but when the driver circuit is provided over the substrate 500, the number of wiring connections can be reduced. Accordingly, the reliability or yield can be improved.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a circuit configuration of the pixel portion. Here, a pixel structure of a VA liquid crystal display panel is shown.

In this pixel structure, a plurality of pixel electrode layers are provided in one pixel, and transistors are connected to respective pixel electrode layers. The transistors are driven by different gate signals. In other words, signals applied to individual pixel electrode layers in a multi-domain pixel are controlled independently.

A gate wiring 512 of a transistor 516 and a gate wiring 513 of a transistor 517 are separated so that different gate signals can be given thereto. In contrast, a source or drain electrode layer 514 functioning as a data line is used in common for the transistors 516 and 517. As the transistors 516 and 517, the transistor described in the above embodiment can be used as appropriate. In the above manner, a highly reliable liquid crystal display panel can be provided.

A first pixel electrode layer connected to the transistor 516 and a second pixel electrode layer connected to the transistor 517 have different shapes and are separated by a slit. The second pixel electrode layer is provided so as to surround the external side of the first pixel electrode layer which is spread in a V shape. Timing of voltage application is made to vary between the first and second pixel electrode layers by the transistors 516 and 517 in order to control alignment of the liquid crystal. The transistor 516 is connected to the gate wiring 512, and the transistor 517 is connected to the gate wiring 513. When different gate signals are supplied to the gate wiring 512 and the gate wiring 513, operation timings of the transistor 516 and the transistor 517 can be varied.

Further, a storage capacitor is formed using a capacitor wiring 510, a gate insulating film functioning as a dielectric, and a capacitor electrode connected to the first pixel electrode layer or the second pixel electrode layer.

The first pixel electrode layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a counter electrode layer overlap with one another to form a first liquid crystal element 518. In addition, the second pixel electrode layer, the liquid crystal layer, and the counter electrode layer overlap with one another to form a second liquid crystal element 519. The pixel structure is a multi-domain structure in which the first liquid crystal element 518 and the second liquid crystal element 519 are provided in one pixel.

Note that the pixel structure is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 7B. For example, a switch, a resistor, a capacitor, a transistor, a sensor, a logic circuit, or the like may be added to the pixel illustrated in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7C shows an example of a circuit configuration different from the circuit configuration in the pixel portion illustrated in FIG. 7B. Here, a pixel structure of a display panel using an organic EL element is shown.

In an organic EL element, by application of voltage to a light-emitting element, electrons and holes are separately injected from a pair of electrodes into a layer containing a light-emitting organic compound, and current flows. The carriers (electrons and holes) are recombined, and thus, the light-emitting organic compound is excited. The light-emitting organic compound returns to a ground state from the excited state, thereby emitting light. Owing to such a mechanism, this light-emitting element is referred to as current-excitation light-emitting element.

The following shows the structure and operation of a pixel by which the organic EL element can be driven. Here, one pixel includes two n-channel transistors each of which includes the oxide semiconductor film according to one embodiment of the present invention as a channel formation region.

A pixel 520 includes a switching transistor 521, a driving transistor 522, a light-emitting element 524, and a capacitor 523. A gate electrode layer of the switching transistor 521 is connected to a scan line 526, a first electrode (one of a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer) of the switching transistor 521 is connected to a signal line 525, and a second electrode (the other of the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer) of the switching transistor 521 is connected to a gate electrode layer of the driving transistor 522. The gate electrode layer of the driving transistor 522 is connected to a power supply line 527 through the capacitor 523, a first electrode of the driving transistor 522 is connected to the power supply line 527, and a second electrode of the driving transistor 522 is connected to a first electrode (pixel electrode) of the light-emitting element 524. A second electrode of the light-emitting element 524 corresponds to a common electrode 528. The common electrode 528 is connected to a common potential line formed over the same substrate as the common electrode 528.

As the switching transistor 521 and the driving transistor 522, the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 can be used as appropriate. In this manner, a highly reliable display panel including an organic EL element can be provided.

Note that the second electrode (the common electrode 528) of the light-emitting element 524 is set to have a low power supply potential. Note that the low power supply potential is a potential satisfying the low power supply potential<a high power supply potential with reference to the high power supply potential that is set for the power supply line 527. As the low power supply potential, GND, 0 V, or the like may be employed, for example. In order to make the light-emitting element 524 emit light by applying a potential difference between the high power supply potential and the low power supply potential to the light-emitting element 524 so that current is supplied to the light-emitting element 524, each of the potentials is set so that the potential difference between the high power supply potential and the low power supply potential is higher than or equal to the forward threshold voltage of the light-emitting element 524.

Gate capacitance of the driving transistor 522 may be used as a substitute for the capacitor 523, in which case the capacitor 523 can be omitted. The gate capacitance of the driving transistor 522 may be formed between a channel formation region and the gate electrode layer.

In the case of performing analog grayscale driving, a voltage of higher than or equal to the sum of the forward voltage of the light-emitting element 524 and V_(th) of the driving transistor 522 is applied to the gate electrode layer of the driving transistor 522. The forward voltage of the light-emitting element 524 indicates a voltage at which a desired luminance is obtained, and includes at least a forward threshold voltage. A video signal by which the driving transistor 522 is operated in a saturation region is input, so that current can be supplied to the light-emitting element 524. In order for the driving transistor 522 to operate in a saturation region, the potential of the power supply line 527 is set to be higher than the gate potential of the driving transistor 522. Since the video signal is an analog signal, a current in accordance with the video signal can be supplied to the light-emitting element 524, and analog grayscale driving can be performed.

Note that the pixel structure is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 7C. For example, a switch, a resistor, a capacitor, a sensor, a transistor, a logic circuit, or the like may be added to the pixel illustrated in FIG. 7C.

As described above, the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 is used for the pixel portion or the driver circuit, and at least part of the oxide semiconductor film used for the channel formation region in the transistor includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, and thus, the transistor can have high reliability. Accordingly, a highly reliable display device can be provided.

The structures, methods, and the like described in this embodiment can be combined as appropriate with any of the structures, methods, and the like described in other embodiments.

Embodiment 4

A semiconductor device disclosed in this specification can be applied to a variety of electronic appliances (including game machines). Examples of electronic appliances are a television set (also referred to as television or television receiver), a monitor of a computer or the like, a camera such as a digital camera or a digital video camera, a digital photo frame, a mobile phone handset (also referred to as mobile phone or mobile phone device), a portable game machine, a portable information terminal, an audio reproducing device, a large-sized game machine such as a pachinko machine, and the like. Examples of electronic appliances each including the display device described in Embodiment 4 are described.

FIG. 8A illustrates a portable information terminal including a main body 1001, a housing 1002, display portions 1003 a and 1003 b, and the like. The display portion 1003 b is a touch panel. By touching a keyboard button 1004 displayed on the display portion 1003 b, a screen can be operated and text can be input. Needless to say, the display portion 1003 a may be a touch panel. A liquid crystal panel or an organic light-emitting panel is manufactured by using the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 as a switching element and applied to the display portion 1003 a or 1003 b, whereby a highly reliable portable information terminal can be provided.

The portable information terminal illustrated in FIG. 8A can have a function of displaying a variety of kinds of information (e.g., a still image, a moving image, and a text image), a function of displaying a calendar, a date, the time, or the like on the display portion, a function of operating or editing the information displayed on the display portion, a function of controlling processing by a variety of kinds of software (programs), and the like. Furthermore, an external connection terminal (e.g., an earphone terminal or a USB terminal), a recording medium insertion portion, and the like may be provided on the back surface or the side surface of the housing.

The portable information terminal illustrated in FIG. 8A may transmit and receive data wirelessly. Through wireless communication, desired book data or the like can be purchased and downloaded from an electronic book server.

FIG. 8B illustrates a portable music player including, in a main body 1021, a display portion 1023, a fixing portion 1022 with which the portable music player can be worn on the ear, a speaker, an operation button 1024, an external memory slot 1025, and the like. A liquid crystal panel or an organic light-emitting panel is manufactured by using the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 as a switching element and applied to the display portion 1023, whereby a highly reliable portable music player can be provided.

Furthermore, when the portable music player illustrated in FIG. 8B has an antenna, a microphone function, or a wireless communication function and is used with a mobile phone, a user can talk on the phone wirelessly in a hands-free way while driving a car or the like.

FIG. 8C illustrates a mobile phone including two housings, a housing 1030 and a housing 1031. The housing 1031 includes a display panel 1032, a speaker 1033, a microphone 1034, a pointing device 1036, a camera lens 1037, an external connection terminal 1038, and the like. The housing 1030 is provided with a solar cell 1040 for charging the mobile phone, an external memory slot 1041, and the like. In addition, an antenna is incorporated in the housing 1031. The transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 is applied to the display panel 1032, whereby a highly reliable mobile phone can be provided.

Further, the display panel 1032 includes a touch panel. A plurality of operation keys 1035 which are displayed as images are indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 8C. Note that a boosting circuit by which a voltage output from the solar cell 1040 is increased to be sufficiently high for each circuit is also included.

For example, a power transistor used for a power supply circuit such as a boosting circuit can also be formed when the oxide semiconductor film of the transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 has a thickness of greater than or equal to 2 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm.

In the display panel 1032, the direction of display is changed as appropriate depending on the application mode. Further, the mobile phone is provided with the camera lens 1037 on the same surface as the display panel 1032, and thus it can be used as a video phone. The speaker 1033 and the microphone 1034 can be used for videophone calls, recording, and playing sound, and the like as well as voice calls. Moreover, the housings 1030 and 1031 in a state where they are developed as illustrated in FIG. 8C can be slid so that one is lapped over the other. Therefore, the size of the mobile phone can be reduced, which makes the mobile phone suitable for being carried around.

The external connection terminal 1038 can be connected to an AC adaptor and a variety of cables such as a USB cable, whereby charging and data communication with a personal computer or the like are possible. Further, by inserting a recording medium into the external memory slot 1041, a larger amount of data can be stored and moved.

Further, in addition to the above functions, an infrared communication function, a television reception function, or the like may be provided.

FIG. 8D illustrates an example of a television set. In a television set 1050, a display portion 1053 is incorporated in a housing 1051. Images can be displayed on the display portion 1053. Here, the housing 1051 is supported on a stand 1055 incorporating a CPU. The transistor described in Embodiment 2 or 3 is applied to the display portion 1053, whereby the highly reliable television set 1050 can be provided.

The television set 1050 can be operated with an operation switch of the housing 1051 or a separate remote controller. Further, the remote controller may be provided with a display portion for displaying data output from the remote controller.

Note that the television set 1050 is provided with a receiver, a modem, and the like. With the receiver, general television broadcasting can be received. Moreover, when the display device is connected to a communication network with or without wires via the modem, one-way (from a sender to a receiver) or two-way (between a sender and a receiver or between receivers) information communication can be performed.

Further, the television set 1050 is provided with an external connection terminal 1054, a storage medium recording and reproducing portion 1052, and an external memory slot. The external connection terminal 1054 can be connected to various types of cables such as a USB cable, and data communication with a personal computer or the like is possible. A disk storage medium is inserted into the storage medium recording and reproducing portion 1052, data stored in the storage medium can be read, and data can be written to the storage medium. In addition, an image, a video, or the like stored as data in an external memory 1056 inserted into the external memory slot can be displayed on the display portion 1053.

The structures, methods, and the like described in this embodiment can be combined as appropriate with any of the structures, methods, and the like described in other embodiments.

EXAMPLE 1

In this example, an oxide semiconductor film (an amo-OS film, Sample 1) which is entirely amorphous and contains indium, gallium, and zinc, oxide semiconductor films (CAAC-OS films, Sample 2 and Sample 3) according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention, each of which contains indium, gallium, and zinc and includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region were formed by changing film formation conditions, and oxygen vacancies in each of the oxide semiconductor films of Samples 1 to 3 were measured. The details of each sample are as follows.

(Sample 1)

An IGZO film was formed over a quartz substrate to a thickness of 100 nm by a sputtering method. After that, the IGZO film was subjected to a heat treatment at 450° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere (the proportion of N₂ was 100%). After that, a SiON film was formed over the IGZO film to a thickness of 400 nm by a plasma CVD method. Note that the IGZO film was formed under conditions where a metal oxide target with In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 was used; the Ar gas flow rate was 90 sccm and the O₂ gas flow rate was 10 sccm (the proportion of the O₂ gas flow rate was 10%); the film formation pressure was 0.6 Pa; the film formation power was 5 kw (DC); and the substrate temperature was 170° C. Further, the SiON film was formed under conditions where the SiH₄ gas flow rate was 30 sccm and the N₂O gas flow rate was 4000 sccm; the film formation pressure was 200 Pa; the film formation power was 150 W (RF); and the substrate temperature was 220° C.

(Sample 2)

An IGZO film was formed over a quartz substrate to a thickness of 100 nm by a sputtering method. After that, the IGZO film was subjected to a heat treatment at 450° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere (the proportion of N₂ was 100%). After that, a SiON film was formed over the IGZO film to a thickness of 400 nm by a plasma CVD method. Note that the IGZO film was formed under conditions where a metal oxide target with In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 was used; the Ar gas flow rate was 50 sccm and the O₂ gas flow rate was 50 sccm (the proportion of the O₂ gas flow rate was 50%); the film formation pressure was 0.6 Pa; the film formation power was 5 kw (DC); and the substrate temperature was 170° C. The SiON film was formed under the same conditions as Sample 1.

(Sample 3)

An IGZO film was formed over a quartz substrate to a thickness of 100 nm by a sputtering method. After that, the IGZO film was subjected to a heat treatment at 450° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere (the proportion of N₂ was 100%). After that, a SiON film was formed over the IGZO film to a thickness of 400 nm by a plasma CVD method. Note that the IGZO film was formed under conditions where a metal oxide target with In:Ga:Zn=1:1:1 was used; the Ar gas flow rate was 0 sccm and the O₂ gas flow rate was 100 sccm (the proportion of the O₂ gas flow rate was 100%); the film formation pressure was 0.6 Pa; the film formation power was 2 kw (DC); and the substrate temperature was 170° C. The SiON film was formed under the same conditions as Sample 1 and Sample 2.

Oxygen vacancies in each of the oxide semiconductor films of Samples 1 to 3 were measured at the following timings: after the SiON film was formed; after a heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere (the proportion of N₂ was 100%); and after a heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an atmosphere containing N₂ and O₂ (the proportion of N₂ was 80% and the proportion of O₂ was 20%).

The oxygen vacancies in each of the oxide semiconductor films of Samples 1 to 3 can be measured by electron spin resonance (ESR).

FIGS. 9A to 9C and FIG. 10 show measurement results of the spin density in Samples 1 to 3. Measurement conditions of the spin density were as follows. The temperature was 25° C., the power of microwaves (9.2 GHz) was 20 mW, the direction of a magnetic field was parallel to a surface of each of the oxide semiconductor films, and the lower limit of the detection was 1.0×10¹⁷ spins/cm³.

FIG. 9A shows measurement results of the spin density in Sample 1, FIG. 9B shows measurement results of the spin density in Sample 2, and FIG. 9C shows measurement results of the spin density in Sample 3. In each of FIGS. 9A to 9C, a spectrum in a top row shows a measurement result of the spin density after the SiON film was formed, a spectrum in a middle row shows a measurement result of the spin density after the heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere (the proportion of N₂ was 100%), and a spectrum in a bottom row shows a measurement result of the spin density after the heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an atmosphere containing N₂ and O₂ (the proportion of N₂ was 80% and the proportion of O₂ was 20%). Note that in each of FIGS. 9A to 9C, the horizontal axis indicates a g-factor (also referred to as g value), and the vertical axis indicates the intensity.

FIG. 10 is a bar graph showing the results of the spin density shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C.

As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C and FIG. 10, after the SiON film was formed, the spin density of Sample 1 was 2.3×10¹⁸ spins/cm³, the spin density of Sample 2 was 2.1×10¹⁸ spins/cm³, and the spin density of Sample 3 was 8.9×10¹⁷ spins/cm³. Further, after the heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an N₂ atmosphere, the spin density of Sample 1 was 2.4×10¹⁸ spins/cm³, and the spin density of Sample 2 and Sample 3 was lower than the lower limit of the detection. Further, after the heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an atmosphere containing N₂ and O₂, the spin density of Sample 1 was 1.7×10¹⁸ spins/cm³, and the spin density of Sample 2 and Sample 3 was lower than the lower limit of the detection.

The graphs show that the number of oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film (an amo-OS film, Sample 1) which is entirely amorphous is different from the numbers of oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor films (CAAC-OS films, Sample 2 and Sample 3) according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention, each of which includes a c-axis-aligned crystalline region. In Sample 1, after the heat treatment was performed at 300° C. for one hour in an atmosphere containing N₂ and O₂, the spin density was decreased. In other words, it can be confirmed that oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film were partially filled with oxygen in the SiON film or oxygen in an atmosphere of the heat treatment. However, the oxygen vacancies were not completely filled with oxygen. On the other hand, in each of Sample 2 and Sample 3, by heat treatment performed after the SiON film was formed, the spin density was decreased to lower than the lower limit of the detection. In other words, it can be confirmed that oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film were filled with oxygen in the SiON film or oxygen in an atmosphere of the heat treatment.

Accordingly, from the measurement by ESR, it can be said that the oxide semiconductor film (CAAC-OS film) according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention, which includes the c-axis-aligned crystalline region, is an oxide semiconductor film which does not show an ESR signal of oxygen vacancies.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no. 2011-089349 filed with Japan Patent Office on Apr. 13, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An oxide semiconductor film comprising: a crystalline region in an upper portion of the oxide semiconductor film, the crystalline region comprising a crystal, wherein a composition of the crystalline region is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m), wherein 0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied, and wherein a composition ratio of the crystalline region is different from a composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film.
 3. The oxide semiconductor film according to claim 2, wherein the oxide semiconductor film has no signal assigned to oxygen vacancies in an electron spin resonance measurement.
 4. The oxide semiconductor film according to claim 2, wherein the crystalline region is formed by a heat treatment.
 5. The oxide semiconductor film according to claim 2, wherein the composition of the oxide semiconductor film is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m), and wherein 0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied.
 6. The oxide semiconductor film according to claim 2, wherein a c-axis of the crystal is oriented substantially in a direction parallel to a normal vector of a surface where the oxide semiconductor film is formed.
 7. A semiconductor device comprising: a gate electrode; a first insulating film over the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film; and a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, wherein the oxide semiconductor film comprises a crystalline region in an upper portion of the oxide semiconductor film, wherein a composition of the crystalline region is represented by In₁₊₆₇ Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m), wherein 0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied, and wherein a composition ratio of the crystalline region is different from a composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film.
 8. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the oxide semiconductor film has no signal assigned to oxygen vacancies in an electron spin resonance measurement.
 9. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the crystalline region is formed by a heat treatment.
 10. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the composition of the oxide semiconductor film is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m), and wherein 0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied.
 11. A semiconductor device comprising: a first insulating film; an oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film; a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode over the second insulating film, wherein the oxide semiconductor film comprises a crystalline region in an upper portion of the oxide semiconductor film, wherein a composition of the crystalline region is represented by In_(1+δ)Ga_(1−δ)O₃(ZnO)_(m), wherein 0<δ<1 and m=1 to 3 are satisfied, and wherein a composition ratio of the crystalline region is different from a composition ratio of the oxide semiconductor film.
 12. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the oxide semiconductor film has no signal assigned to oxygen vacancies in an electron spin resonance measurement.
 13. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the crystalline region is formed by a heat treatment.
 14. The semiconductor device according to claim 11, wherein the composition of the oxide semiconductor film is represented by In_(x)Ga_(y)O₃(ZnO)_(m), and wherein 0<x<2, 0<y<2, and m=1 to 3 are satisfied. 